The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) is a weekly bulletin for epidemiologists and health professionals on active public health threats. This issue covers the period 26 November - 2 December 2017 and includes updates on influenza, plague, monkeypox, yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue and Zika.

On Monday 16 October 2017 the Council adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights And Democracy in the World in 2016.

2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world.

Since its inception, the Adaptation Fund has provided critical support for climate resilient development strategies across the globe. Working through agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), governments across the globe have accessed Adaptation Fund finance to reduce climate change risks and build more climate resilient nations.

PORT VICTORIA, Seychelles, 5 September 2016 - Memories of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which claimed some 230,000 lives, will be revived this week as 24 countries take part in one of the largest tsunami simulations ever staged.

The Tsunami Warning System established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in the Indian Ocean following the December 2004 disaster is functioning effectively.
This was demonstrated in a simulation exercise conducted on 9 and 10 September 2014, with the participation of 24 countries of the Indian Ocean Rim*.

According to the preliminary results of the simulated alert, all of the participating countries received timely tsunami advisory messages, and no delays were reported.

Ten years after the strongest tsunami in living memory in 2004, 24 countries of the Indian Ocean Rim* will participate in a large scale simulation exercise organized under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO on 9 and 10 September to test the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System. The goal is to measure the capacity and response times of the various stakeholders involved to address such rare but potentially destructive events.

This year, World Water Day (March 22) highlights the importance of international efforts to preserve and protect the world’s shared water resources.

The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon: ‘Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet, we must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource.’

In a world of global challenges, continued
poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease,
the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish
its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to
prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public
health emergencies

In brief

Summary:

This annual report focuses on the work
of the team in the Asia Pacific zone office in 2008 to provide leadership
and guidance to the International …

In a world of global challenges, continued
poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease,
the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish
its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to
prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public
health emergencies.

In brief

Summary:

This programme update focuses on the
work of the team in the Asia Pacific zone office to provide leadership
and guidance to the International Federation …

"Making hospitals safe from disaster"
was the theme of tomorrow's International Day for Disaster Reduction, the
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief
Coordinator, John Holmes, said this afternoon at a Headquarters press conference
to make the announcement.

The second Wednesday of October was designated
in 1989 to be the International Day, Mr. Holmes went on.

LONDON, AlertNet - How do you get
a humanitarian crisis into the headlines? And how can you convince editors
to keep covering it? A new study by U.S.-based media analysts CARMA International
may provide a few pointers.

(New York: 30 November 2005):
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for $4.7
billion to provide urgent support to 31 million people in humanitarian
emergencies in 26 countries worldwide.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOREWORD TO THE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL 2006
The past year has been a wretched one for millions of disaster victims. It dawned with the Indian Ocean tsunami, saw a hurricane season unrivalled in living memory strike the Americas, and included South Asia’s devastating earthquake. Through it all, other tragic crises persisted in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Like never before, the year stretched and tested the capabilities of aid agencies, and the will of survivors.